Storage drawer assembly with power capability and modular drawer arrangement

ABSTRACT

A drawer assembly that includes a drawer and a power strip. The drawer includes a base, a front wall, a rear wall, two opposing side walls, a rear compartment, and a front compartment. The front wall, rear wall and two opposing side walls are coupled to the base to form a recess. The power strip is positioned within the drawer assembly and coupled to one of the front wall, rear wall, two opposing side walls, rear compartment and front compartment and adapted to power and charge electronic devices. The power strip includes electrical receptacles. The drawer assembly may also include an electrical receptacle on an exterior surface of the drawer assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Theft of personal electronics is a concern for people that work in common areas without a place to securely store personal electronics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In offices, warehouses, and schools with common areas, it is desirable for people to have the ability to securely lock up their personal electronic devices. It is an added advantage if the storage area can include not only the ability to secure the electronic devices, but also to power and recharge the electronic devices at the same time.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a drawer assembly for powering and charging electronic devices. The drawer assembly includes a drawer with a power strip coupled to the drawer in a location depending on the needs of the drawer user. The drawer assembly also includes an interior recess including a divider and a receiving wall. The receiving wall includes a plurality of receiving slots to slidably receive the divider at various locations along the receiving wall. The interior recess is thus dividable into a plurality of compartments depending on the needs of the drawer user and the electronic devices to be powered or charged within the drawer. In some embodiments of the invention, the power strip includes a plurality of electrical receptacles. In some embodiments of the invention, the power strip includes at least one power transmission outlet and one data transmission outlet.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a drawer assembly for powering and charging electronic devices that are either positioned within the drawer or positioned on the exterior of the drawer assembly. In this manner, the electrical receptacles can be located on an interior surface of the drawer or on an exterior surface of the drawer assembly.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer assembly.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the interior of a drawer of the drawer assembly of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the drawer illustrated in FIG. 2 showing a plurality of electronic devices supported therein.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the drawer assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a drawer assembly 4 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The drawer assembly 4 includes a drawer 8. The drawer 8, as illustrated in FIG. 2, includes a base 12, a front wall 16, a rear wall 20 and opposing side walls 24, 28. The front wall 16, rear wall 20 and opposing side walls 24, 28 are coupled to the base 12 and define a recess 32. The recess 32 can be divided into a plurality of compartments. For example, the recess 32 generally includes a forward compartment 40 and a rear compartment 44.

A power strip 36 is coupled to at least one of the front wall 16, rear wall 20 and the opposing side walls 24, 28 and is generally positioned within the recess 32. In some embodiments, the power strip 36 is coupled to a forward compartment 40 and a rear compartment 44. The power strip 36 can include a plurality of electrical receptacles 48. The power strip 36 can be coupled to the drawer 8 in a plurality of ways, and the power strip 36 can be movable within the recess 32. For example, the power strip 36 can be coupled to the drawer 8 with fasteners, clips, hook and loop material, and the like.

The drawer assembly 4 is adapted to store electronic devices 52 within the drawer 8 while the electronic devices 52 are being powered and recharged (see FIG. 3). The power strip 36 can also include at least one power transmission outlet 56 and at least one data transmission outlet 60 (see FIGS. 2-3). The drawer assembly 4 may also include a security device 64 (see FIG. 1). The security device 64 may include, but is not limited to a lock and key, a combination lock, and the like. The security device 64 can be enabled to secure the electronic devices 52 that are being stored, powered or charged in the drawer assembly 4.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, the drawer 8 includes a modular drawer divider system 68 having a plurality of dividers 72 and a plurality of receiving walls 76. The receiving wall 76 is generally parallel to the front wall 16 and the rear wall 20, and the receiving wall 76 is slidably received by receiving slots 80 on the opposing side walls 24, 28. The divider 72 is movable along the receiving wall 76 via a plurality of receiving slots 84 on the receiving wall 76. The divider 72 can be perpendicularly slidably received and held in place by receiving slots 84 in the receiving wall 76. The divider 72 can be moved along the receiving wall 76 by removing the divider 72 from one set of receiving slots 84 and slidably placing the divider 72 in another set of receiving slots 84 at another location on the receiving wall 76. The receiving wall 76 is also movable along a plurality of receiving slots 80 on the opposing side walls 24, 28. The receiving wall 76 can be slidably received and held in place by the receiving slots 80 in the opposing side walls 24, 28. The receiving wall 76 can be moved along the opposing side walls 24, 28 by removing the receiving wall 76 from one set of receiving slots 80 and slidably placing the receiving wall 76 in another set of receiving slots 80 at another location on the opposing side walls 24, 28.

In some embodiments, the divider 72 and the receiving wall 76 are removable from the recess 32 to accommodate larger electronic devices 52, such as, but not limited to laptop computers. In some embodiments, there may be one or more dividers 72 and one or more receiving walls 76 being used in the drawer assembly 4. The configuration and utilization of the divider 72 and receiving wall 76 can be adjusted by the drawer user.

In some embodiments, a holder 86 is insertable into the drawer assembly 4 and configured to receive an electronic device 52. The holder 86 receives the electronic device 52 and protects the electronic device 52 within the drawer assembly 4. The holder 86 can be made out of foam, cushion or a like material. The holder 86 may be configured to receive a specific electronic device 52, for example, to receive a camera or a cellular phone. However, the holder 86 may also be a cushion type material configured to receive any type of electronic device 52.

FIGS. 2-3 illustrate a few examples of the many possibilities of the configurations for the recess 32 of the drawer assembly 4. It will be understood that various embodiments of drawers 8, divider 72 and receiving wall 76 placed in upper and lower portions thereof, as well as the location of the power strip 36 at various locations around the recess 32 of the drawer 8, including the front face thereof, can be contemplated without departing from the scope of this invention. Further, it is noted that the receiving wall 76 does not have to be parallel to the front wall 16 and the rear wall 20, but can be positioned and slidably received in any orientation between the receiving slots 80 on the opposing walls 24, 28. Similarly, it is noted that the divider 72 does not have to be perpendicular to the receiving wall 76, but can be positioned and slidably received in any orientation between the receiving slots 84 on the receiving wall 76.

The modular drawer divider system 68 including the divider 72 and receiving wall 76 can be made of a plastic, metal, or other material. The divider 72 and receiving wall 76 can be constructed with other types of material and according to other designs, such as a design that includes more or fewer sections or parts than the number of sections or parts illustrated in the drawings.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the drawer 8 is adaptable to store, power, and charge a plurality of electronic devices 52. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the drawer assembly 4 can also include a plurality of electrical receptacles 48 coupled to the exterior 88 of the drawer assembly. The electrical receptacles 48 can accommodate electronic devices 52 or other devices, such as computers and computer peripherals, a television, a radio, and the like, positioned on the exterior 88 of the drawer assembly 4. The electrical receptacles 48 are adapted to provide electrical power to charge and power electronic devices 52 and other electronic devices.

Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a drawer assembly for storing, powering and charging electronic devices. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims. 

1. A drawer assembly comprising: a drawer including, a base; a front wall, a rear wall, and two opposing side walls, each wall coupled to the base to define a recess; a power strip coupled to one of the front wall, rear wall and side walls, the power strip including a plurality of electrical receptacles adapted to power an electronic device; and a modular drawer system including a plurality of walls adapted to partition the recess.
 2. The drawer assembly of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of walls includes a divider positioned in the recess and generally parallel to the opposing side walls.
 3. The drawer assembly of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of walls includes a receiving wall, and wherein the divider is movable with respect to the receiving wall within the recess.
 4. The drawer assembly of claim 3, wherein the receiving wall has a plurality of receiving slots adapted to receive the divider.
 5. The drawer assembly of claim 3, wherein the two opposing side walls include a plurality of receiving slots, and wherein the receiving wall is positioned in the receiving slots and positioned generally parallel with respect to the front wall of the drawer.
 6. The drawer assembly of claim 1, wherein the drawer includes a security device adapted to secure the drawer in a closed position.
 7. A cabinet comprising: a frame including a top wall, a bottom wall, two opposing side walls, each coupled to the top wall and bottom wall, and a rear wall coupled to the top wall, bottom wall, and the two opposing side walls, the top wall, the bottom wall, the two opposing side walls and the rear wall defining a recess; a plurality of drawers supported by the frame for movement between an open position and a closed position and including, a base; a front wall, a rear wall, and two opposing side walls, each wall coupled to the base; a power strip including a plurality of electrical receptacles coupled to one of the front wall, rear wall, side walls; and an electrical receptacle coupled to the rear wall of the frame.
 8. The drawer assembly of claim 7, wherein at least one drawer includes a forward compartment and a rear compartment.
 9. The drawer assembly of claim 8, wherein the power strip is coupled to one of the forward and rear compartments.
 10. The drawer assembly of claim 9, wherein the power strip is adapted to provide electrical power to charge and power electronic devices.
 11. The drawer assembly of claim 10, wherein the power strip includes at least one outlet for power transmission.
 12. The drawer assembly of claim 10, wherein the power strip includes at least one outlet for data transmission.
 13. The drawer assembly of claim 8, wherein the forward compartment and the rear compartment have a recess to support an electronic device.
 14. A drawer assembly comprising: a frame including a top wall, a bottom wall, two opposing side walls, each coupled to the top wall and the bottom wall, and a rear wall coupled to the top wall, bottom wall, and the two opposing side walls, the top wall, the bottom wall, the two opposing side walls and the rear wall defining a recess; a plurality of drawers supported by the frame for movement between an open position and a closed position and including, a base; a front wall, a rear wall, and opposing side walls, each wall coupled to the base; a forward compartment; a rear compartment; a power strip, the power strip including a plurality of electrical receptacles coupled to one of the front wall, rear wall, side walls, forward compartment, and rear compartment; and a modular drawer system, the modular drawer system including a plurality of walls adapted to partition the recess.
 15. The drawer assembly of claim 14, wherein an electrical receptacle is coupled to an exterior surface of the drawer assembly adapted to power electronic devices positioned on the exterior of the drawer assembly.
 16. The drawer assembly of claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of walls includes a divider positioned in the recess and generally parallel to the opposing side walls.
 17. The drawer assembly of claim 14, wherein one of the plurality of walls includes a receiving wall, and wherein the divider is movable with respect to the receiving wall within the recess.
 18. The drawer assembly of claim 17, wherein the receiving wall has a plurality of receiving slots adapted to receive the divider.
 19. The drawer assembly of claim 17, wherein the two opposing side walls include a plurality of receiving slots, and wherein the receiving wall is positioned in the receiving slots and positioned generally parallel with respect to the front wall of the drawer. 